RESEARCH SUMMARY
Our lab vertically integrates information about chemical synapses with systems-level knowledge of neural circuits. Our guiding hypothesis is that the design of the retina is constrained by noise and the need to limit the number of vesicles and spikes used to transmit information. Noise occurs at the retinal input from random photon absorptions, is generated by the biological components that the retina is made from, and reduces visual performance. The number of vesicles and spikes should be limited because they consume metabolic energy and because the optic nerve has a limited net spike rate. Therefore, we study noise generated by synapses and test hypotheses about the design of retinal circuitry.